The City of Savannah invites the community to participate in the third annual commemorative Juneteenth Walk to the River led by Mayor Van R. Johnson, II, Friday, June 19, 2026.  

The two-mile community walk, which observes the federal Juneteenth holiday, also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, will begin at 8:30am, at Wells Park. The route will proceed north along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. It will end at Savannah River’s MLK Jr. Park. 

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation to end chattel slavery in the United States. On that day, General Gordan Granger declared, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, slaves are free.” The announcement reached enslaved persons in Galveston two-and-a-half-years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.  

“Juneteenth reminds us that freedom delayed is still worth fighting for. As we gather for our 3rd Annual Juneteenth Walk to the River, we honor the resilience of those who came before us, celebrate the progress we've made, and re-commit ourselves to building a Savannah where freedom, opportunity, and justice belong to all,” said Mayor Van. R. Johnson, II. “We walk together because our history is shared, our future is connected, and all means all.”

Mayor Johnson signed a proclamation in 2020 recognizing Juneteenth Day in Savannah. In 2021, former President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act recognizing June 19 as the federal holiday, Juneteenth. It became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was adopted in 1983. 

Transportation for the walk will be provided for individuals with mobility challenges and for those returning to their vehicles. Hydration stations will be available along the route. Savannah Police Department’s traffic division will conduct a rolling closure of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., between W. 38th St. and River St. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternative routes, exercise patience, and obey the direction of traffic officers.  

What: Third Annual Juneteenth Walk to the River  

When: Friday, June 19, 8:30am  

Where: Wells Park, 2299 Montgomery St., Savannah